Switching device.



No.' 883,701. PATENTBD APB.. 7, 1908.

J. A'. DUFFY e o; "IRWIN.

, swITcHmG DEVICE.

APPLIOATIOF FILED JAI. 19, 19041 v WITNESBES fur Nomus 'Ph-:ns co..wlunmaroM-wn `completing the circuit.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. DUFFY AND OSCAR IRWIN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS OFSIX-TENTHS TO CHARLES D ARMSTRONG, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCHING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April '7, 1908.

Application filed January 19, 1904. Serial No. 189,672.

T0 all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that we, JAMES A. DUFFY and OSCAR IRWIN, of the city ofPittsburg, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful Switching Device, of which the followin is a full, clear, andexact description, re erence being had to the accompanying drawings,forming part of this speciiication, in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammaticview showing the wiring system and mechanical connections of ourimproved switching device and Fig. 2 is a detail view showing a portionof the insulation.

Our invention relates to the switch mechanism of railroads especiallystreet cars, but it may be adapted to steam railroads or any trackscontaining switches.

The object of the invention is to provide electrical mechanism by whichthe operator on the car may throw the switch or leave it in itsposition; and further to automatically lock the switch after it isthrown and until after4 the car has passed it.

It is `further designed to provide signal mechanism which will indicatethe position of the switch and indicate to the operator `whether or nothe wishes to shift it.

It is also designed to supply current to the car motor during the timethat the switch is being shifted, and also during the time that theswitch is held in locked position until after the car has passed it.

It is further designed to arrange the signal mechanism in such a mannerthat accidental shifting of the switch will shift the signals so thatthey will always indicate its position.

In the drawings 2 is the general feed wire and 3 the trolley wire havinga dead section 4 extending from a to t and which is fed through wire 5leading down and having a branch 6 which leads through the solenoid 7and back through wire 8 to the section 4.

When the car trolley 9 bears on the dead section and thecar controlleris in the on position, the current flows from the dead section downthrough the trolley, through the head switch 10, through the controller1 1 and then` through the motor 12 and to the rail 13, In this case themagnet 7 is energized and pulls up the shifting device which throws thetwo-point switch 14 and thus shifts the current from one to the other ofthe electro-magnets 15 and 16 when the trolley wheel 9 passes on toswitch. It will here be explained that so ley section 17 trolley 9(which is now on the the section 17 of the trolley wire. The currentthrough these magnets actuates the trolley section 17 car circuit andthence to the rail 13. l If the motorman does not desire to throw theswitch point he shuts off the controller as he passes on to the deadsection 4 and runs over this short section without power. In this casethere is no circuit completed through the magnet 7 and when he passesthe section 4 and enters on the trolley section 17 the switch point isautomatically locked in position. In thisl case the current flowsthrough the wire 5 down to the post 18, thence to the contact 19, andfrom the contact 19 through wire 20 to the electro-magnet 16. It theniiows from the magnet 16 through the wire 21 to the section insulator 17extending between points a and t, thus feeding this trolley section.This revents jarring over of the switch point, an( as soon as theoperator has passed over the section 4 9 and entered the section 17 thecurrent will lock the switch point and hold it locked until the car hasentirely passed the switch. In case he wishes to throw the switch point,he leaves the controller on and the electric switch 9 member 14 isthrown over while he is on the section 4, thereby shifting the currentfrom one to the other of the electro-magnets 15 and 16 when the trolleywheel 9 reaches the trolley wire section 17 whereupon the switch 1 pointis thrown; locking of the electric switch point then takes place thesame as above while the trolley remains on the section 17. The section17 is of such length, that the car will be entirely past the switch 1before the trolley leaves this section. After passing the section 17 theswitch point and the system are l'eft free to be operated by the nextcar in any direction desired.

The shifting or reversing device by which the electric switch member 14is actuated consists in the form shown of a peculiar mechanical movementby which the electric connections to the magnets and 16 are changed sothat the current is shifted from one magnet to the other whenever thearma-- ture 22 of magnet 7 is drawn upwardly. This armature is connectedat its lower end by pivotal link 23 with a triangular pivot lifter24'having at opposite sides projecting hooks or catches 25. These hooks25 coact with the upper hooked sha e portions 26 of two hooked bars 27pivota ly connected at their lower ends to the switch 14 at oppositesides of its pivot. The upper ends 26 of the hooked bars are providedwith laterally prol jecting rollers which ride over the curved surfacesof loosely pivoted latches 28. These latches are pivoted within slots inthe plate 29 and are normally held in the position shown, by spiralsprings surrounding their pivots and exerting a spring pressure uponthem. Upon theplate 29 is a contact 19 similar to the contact 19 andhaving a wire 20 leading to the solenoid '15. From this solenoid thewire 21 leads to the wire 21.

The specific construction and mountin of the member 24 is fully shownand descri ed in our rior patent Number 770,456, to which re erence ishad for a complete understanding of the manner of operation of thiselement.

The armatures 30 of magnets 15 and 16 are pivotally connected to theopposite pawls of a'two-armed switch 31 having at opposite ends metalplates 32 with knives 33 arranged to alternately engage with the contactoints 34 and 34. The pivotal connection etween the armature and theswitch is shown in Fig. 2, the armature having a forked end with a pivotbolt 35 extending through an insulating bushing, and the plate 32 beinginsulated from the lever by the insulating layer 36. The lever 31 iscentrally pivoted and the one side is connected to the pivotal link 37which leads to the switch mechanism. In the form shown a bell cranklever 33 has one arm connected to the link 37, the other arm beingpivotally connected with the link 39 leading to the switch, but theconnection between the lever 31 and the switch may be arranged in anydesirable manner. The part 31 serves two functions. ln its leverfunction it actuates the switch point; and in its electrical function itserves to actuate the signal mechanism which indicates the position ofthe switch.

The signal mechanism in the form shown consists of semaphore arms 40 and40 which are pivoted at 41 and 41 respectively and provided with leverarms carrying colored globes or glasses 42 and 42.

From the contact point 34 the wire 43 leads through an electric lamp 44thence through a solenoid 45 and to the wire 46 leading to the rail.Similarly from the point 34 the wire 43 leads through the lamp 44 thencethrough the solenoid 45 and to the wire 46. The solenoids are preferablyivoted and their armatures are connecter to the semaphore arms by links47 and 47 respectively. When the switch 31 is in the position shown thesolenoid 45 is energized and draws down the semaphore arm at the sametime bringing the colored globe over the lam light. arm 40 is releasedand will be lifted by the weight of the globe end of the lever, at thesame time the magnet 45 is energized and is drawn down thus indicatingthe shifting of the switch.

ln order that the lights or semaphore arms shall indicate the osition ofthe switch in case it is accidental y moved either by a carriage or amischievous boy, we provide a system of connections which will shift theindicators so that they'will always show the position of the switch evenif it is operated without energizing the magnets. For this'purpose thewires 48 and 48 connect the con- Y tacts 19 and 19 respectively with theinsulated plates 32 upon the lever 31. With these additionalconnections, if the switch is accidentally moved a certain distance, thelever 3l will be shifted out of contact with the contact points 34 and34. ln this case both of the magnets 45 and 45 will be denergized andthe semaphore arms or lights will take a position under gravity showingthat the switch is between its normal positions, lf the switch isaccidentally moved to the other position the knife at the other end ofthe ever 31 will engage the other contact and shift the signals so thatthe proper signal will again show for this position of the switch. Thesignals above described are shown as in shunt with the magnets; they mayhowever be placed in series, one with each magnet.

To provide another signal which shall show the position of the automaticreversing device in case of accidental throwing of the switch, weprovide the two-armed signal lever 49 having colored glasses at each endand connected to the lever 14 by chains 50. The ends of the lever 49swing over the outer lamps 51 and show different colored lights fordifferent positions of the reversing device. lf all points are normalthe light of signal 49 and the switch point semaphores will be alike.

The advantages of our invention will be obvious to those skilled in theart. In the normal action of the device the operator on a carapproaching the switch can determine from the visual signal Whether theswitch is in the desired position or not. lf not he retains thecontroller in the on-position and the current energizing the magnet 7 ashe enters the dead section 4'will shift the switch ljust before the carreaches it. In either case which is now energized and gives a When theswitch 31 is shifted the whether he actuates the switch ornot, 'thecurrent passing through one of the magnets 15 and 16 will lock theswitch in its position until after the car has passed it, the trolleythen traveling on the section 17. passing this section 17 the switch isunlocked and is ready for the next car. Each time that the solenoid 7 isactuated the rail switch will be shifted. If the operator shifts theswitch the car will receive the current throughout the dead section andin any case will receive current after passing the section 4. Thesignals show for either day or night work, the position of the railswitch, whether in either eXtreme position or accidentally left betweenthese positions; and the indication will be correct even though theswitch be accidentally moved The locking of the switch is an importantfeature since it prevents tilting over of the switch point and resultingaccidents, and this locking is automatically effected.

Many variations may be made in the form `and arrangement of the electricconnections, the connecting mechanism, the visual signals, etc., withoutdeparting from our invention.

1. In an electric switching apparatus, a track having a switch andswitch shifting mechanism and a trolley wire having two insulatedsections, one of said sections having electrical connections arranged toactuate the switch shifting mechanism and the other section havingelectric connections arranged to control the action of the first-namedsection; substantially as described.

2. In an electric switching mechanism a trolley wire having an insulatedfeed section, a car having a traveling contact therefor,

electric switch-point throwing means, aV

magnet receiving current through the insulated section, means controlledby said magnet for reversing the action of the switchpoint throwingmeans, means for indicating the position of the switch and handmechanism for controlling the energizing of the magnet; substantially asdescribed.

3. In an electric switching device a switching mechanism having twoelectro-magnets arranged to throw the switch, means for indicating theposition of the switch, an insulated section for the traveling contactand a current-changing device connected with the electric switch for thetwo magnets and arranged to change the current thereto when the changingdevice is actuated; substantially as described.

4. A switch having electro -mechanical means for operating it from a carand having signal mechanism arranged to indicate the position of theswitch and electrical connections arranged to shift the signal devicewhen the switch is shifted; substantially as described.

5. In switching mechanism, a pair of in- After ydependent signals, eacharranged to indicate a position of the switch and including an electriclamp and a semaphore arm, an electro-magnetic mechanism for shiftingeach semaphore when the switch is shifted and energize the respectivelamps according to the position into which the switch is Jshifted,substantially as described.

6. In switching apparatus an insulated .section for a traveling contacthaving electrical connections arranged to shift the switch, a set ofsignals, and separate electromagnetic means for shifting each of thesignals when the switch is shifted; *substantially as described.

7. In electricswitching mechanism an electro-magnet, anelectro-mechanical current-changing device and a current-changing switcharranged to be shifted thereby whenever the magnet is energized, andmeans controlled indirectly by the current-changing switch forindicating the position of the track switch; substantially asdescribed.`

S. In electric switching apparatus an electro-magnetic device arrangedto throw the switch, means for indicating the position of the switch, acurrent-changing electric switch for the electro-magnetic device and` anelectro-magnet arranged to actuate` the electric switch, when it isenergized; substantially as described.

9. In electric switching mechanism an insulated section, anelectro-magnet connected to said section, a current-changing electricswitch arranged to be changed when the magnet is energized, an electricswitch actuating device controlled by the electric switch, and means forindicating the position of the switch; substantially as described.

10. In switching apparatus an electro magnetic apparatus for throwingthe switch, means for indicating the position of the switch and meansfor supplying the current to energize said apparatus and lock the switchwhile the car is passingjsubstantially as described.

11. In switching apparatus an insulated feed section, electro-magneticmechanism arranged to shift the switch, switch-signals having electricconnections arranged to shift them when the switch is shifted, and meansfor shifting said signals when the switch is accidentally shifted;substantially as described.

12. In switching apparatus a pair of electrically operated switchingsignals arranged t'o show the position of the switch and means forshifting said signals to an off position to indicate intermediatepositions of the switch; substantially as described.

13. In switching mechanism a pair of signals, electric connectionarranged to shift the signals to show the positions of the switch, andconnections arranged to throw the signals to the off positions forintermediate positions of the switch; substantially as described.

. 14. The combination of a switch and electro mechanical signalmechanism arranged to indicate the position of the switch, saidmechanism comprising a trolley wire having an insulated feed section, acar having a traveling contact therefor, a magnet receiving currentthrough the insulated section and having a reversing device arranged toshift the circuits of the signal mechanism, and means for controllingthe energizing of the magnet substantially as described.

15. The combination of a switch and electro-magnetic signal mechanismarranged to indicate the position of the switch, said JAMES A. DUFFY.OSCAR IRWIN.

Witnesses:

C. D. ARMSTRONG, M. FITzsIMMoNs.

